Prime Minister Theresa May praised the bravery of those who detained the suspect as she condemned the attack as "sickening" in a statement delivered at Downing Street.

After holding an emergency Cobra meeting over the attack in Seven Sisters Road, she said the early assessment by police suggested the attacker "acted alone".

Mrs May, who later visited the Finsbury Park Mosque, said her recent comments that the nation showed too much tolerance of extremism in the wake of the London and Manchester terror attacks included Islamophobia.

"The terrible terrorist attack that happened last night was an evil act born out of hatred and it has devastated a community.

"I'm pleased to be here today to see the strength of that community coming together all faiths, united in one desire, to see extremism and hatred of all sorts driven out of our society.

"There is no place for this hatred in our country today."

Mrs May added counter-terrorism strategy will be reviewed to see if police and security services have the powers they need amid plans for a new Commission for Countering Extremism.

Eight of the injured were taken to three hospitals, while two people were treated at the cordoned-off scene for minor injuries.

All were from the Muslim community.

Many of those injured were believed to have been leaving the Finsbury Park Mosque after prayers following the end of their daily Ramadan fast.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the attack came amid an "unprecedented" and "terrible" few weeks for the capital following the Grenfell Tower fire and other recent terror attacks - but insisted London would remain "united".

Local people observed prayers close to the scene of the attack. Credit: PA

The Welsh van hire company whose vehicle was used in the attack said it was "cooperating fully" with the police investigation.

"We at Pontyclun Van Hire are shocked and saddened by the incident that took place at Finsbury Park last night," the firm said in a statement.

"All our thoughts are with those who have been injured in this cowardly attack."

ITV News Wales Correspondent Rupert Evelyn, who filmed police at the hire site in Mid Glamorgan, said it was still not known if the white van was hired or stolen.

The investigation of the incident is being carried out by the Counter Terrorism Command. Credit: Twitter/ Thomas Van Hulle

In a statement posted on its website, the Finsbury Park Mosque said it "condemns in the strongest terms a heinous terrorist attack".

"The van driver deliberately mowed down Muslim men and women leaving late evening prayers from Finsbury Park Mosque and Muslim Welfare House just after midnight," the statement said.

"This is a callous terrorist attack, which coincides with the murdered MP, Jo Cox, anniversary."

The Muslim Council of Britain has called for extra security around mosques after an attack that demonstrated "the most violent manifestation" of Islamophobia.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said part of £2.5m security funds pledged by the government last summer were still available for places of worship to apply for additional protection.

She also played down concerns it took police several hours to publicly recognise it as an attack after it was initially reported as a road traffic incident.

The Muslim Council of Britain has called for extra security around mosques. Credit: PA

The chairman of the Sikh Federation UK, Bhai Amrik Singh, said the "incidents in the last three months" should prompt "honest dialogue and a fundamental shift in the way government tackles all forms of hate and terror".

The attack follows a van-and-knife attack in London Bridge on June 3 that killed eight, the Manchester suicide attack on May 22 that killed 22 people and March 22's Westminster car-and-knife attack in which five died.

It was also just over a year to the day that Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and fatally stabbed by right-wing extremist Thomas Mair outside her constituency office in Batley, West Yorkshire on June 16, 2016.

Anyone with information about the Finsbury Park attack is urged to call the counter-terrorism number on 0800 789 321